MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer released from hospital

Five weeks after his hospitalization,
a frail-looking but smiling MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was released from Assaf Harofeh Medical Center.

The 75-year old Labor Knesset member was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit suffering from a severe lung infection.

His situation later deteriorated and was defined by his doctors as "critical." He was sedated for placed on a respirator, to assist in his treatment.

Two weeks into his hospitalization, Ben-Eliezer's conditions improved. He was taken off the ventilator, but was kept in the ICU, as his condition remained serious.

MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Photo: Hadar Cohen)

In a press conference held Sunday, Assaf Harofeh Director-General Dr. Benny Davidson refused to address Ben-Eliezer's medical condition, but thanked the medical team in charge of his care.

Ben-Eliezer thanked his doctors for "bringing me back from the brink of death" and said – referring to the go-slow declared in the health system – that he understood the doctors' reasons for striking. "Only someone like me, who has been through what I have been through here, understands the important work they do, the doctors, nurses and orderlies. My heart goes out to them."

Ben-Eliezer further said he does not intend to retire from politics, but rather resume his activities slowly: "What happens in our country is important to me. What happens to us is important to me. I will do everything I can, for as long as I draw breath."